Automatic ice cube maker



Nov. 20, 1962 R. v. BOUGIE ETAL 3,064,442

AUTOMATIC ICE CUBE MAKER Filed March 4. 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 20, 1962 R. v. BOUGIE ETAL 3,064,442

AUTOMATIC ICE' CUBE MAKER Nov. 20, 1962 R. v. BOUGIE ETAL AUTOMATIC ICE CUBE MAKER 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 4, 1960 Nov. 20, 1962 R. V. BOUGIE ETAL AUTOMATIC ICE CUBE MAKER 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 4. 1960 Nov. 20, 1962 R. v. BOUGIE ETAL 3,054,442

AUTOMATIC ICE CUBE MAKER Filed March 4, 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Nov. 20, 1962 R. v. BOUGIE ETAL AUTOMATIC ICE CUBE MAKER d mw w 5 f w u l@ 0 0 NNN u 7m Q n 7, @Q j .W m NNN NMHN NNN f vn.. j www 5 J. d L C i &\l f f Wl WIMI w MNMM www@ 1r .A Q m2 United States; Parent 3,064,442 AUTOMATIC ICE CUBE MAKER Romeo V. Bougie and Lyle F. Shaw, Muskegon, Mich., assignors to Borg-Warner Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed Mar. 4, 1969, Ser. No. 12,830 26 Claims. (Cl. 62 l35} rI'his invention relates to ice cube making machines and more particularly relates to an automatic ice cube making machine which is adapted to be disposed in the freezing compartment of a domestic refrigerator for continuously producing ice cubes.

The present ice cube making machine is an improvement of the ice cube making machine disclosed in cepending application (Case No. 58,163-N), Serial No. 10,676, filed February 24, 1960, now Patent No. 2,994,206 of common ownership.

The above-identified patent discloses an automatic ice cube making machine adapted to be installed in the freezing compartment of a domestic refrigerator and comprises, in general, a tray for receiving water; means for automatically supplying the desired quantity of water to the tray; a grid structure in the tray and composed of a plurality of relatively movable plates which divide the tray into a plurality of compartments for making a plurality of ice cubes; an ice-motor for moving the plates relative to one another and eective to loosen the ice cubes from the grid and the tray; an electric motor connected to the grid structure and effective, when the ice-motor moves the plates to loosen the cubes, to rotate the grid structure and evacuate the cubes from the tray into a receptacle. The machine further comprises an electrical control system operative, by actuation of the ice motor to loosen the ice cubes, to energize the electric motor for the purpose described, and also for actuating the water supplying means after evacuation of the ice cubes from the tray and to provide and insure a prededermined quantity of water flow into the tray. r:The machine further comprises mechanism operative to discona tinue operation of the ice cube maker when the receptacle is lled with ice cubes.

The present invention is an improvement in the abovementioned machine and it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved control arrangement including electrical control system for the motor and control mechanism operated by the motor for loosening the ice cubes from the grid structure and tray, the electrical control system having thermostatically controlled switches for effecting energization and deenergization of the motor.

The invention consists of the novel constructions, arrangements and devices to be hereinafter described and claimed for carrying out the above stated objects and such other objects as will appear from the following description of the preferred embodiments of the invention illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: y

FIG. l is an end view of the ice cube making machine;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the machine taken on line 2 2 of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a top View looking in the direction of the arrows 3 3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 4 4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional View taken on line 5 5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary secitonal view taken along the arrows 6 6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view taken on line 7 7 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8 8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9 9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken on line 10V-10 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic view of the electric circuit of the machine;

FIG. l2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modication of the ice cube maker;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 13 13 of FIG. l2; and

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on line 14 14 of FIG. 12.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 of the drawings, the present ice cube making machine may be installed in the freezing compartment A of a domestic refrigerator B, the compartment A being surrounded by a continuous evaporator C. The machine, in general comprises an ice cube tray D having a grid structure E disposed therein, the grid structure being actuated by cam mechanism F to loosen the ice cubes from the grid structure and the tray. An electric motor G is operatively connected to the grid structure E to rotate the same to evacuate the loosened ice cubes from the tray D. A receptacle H is disposed within the freezing compartment A and beneath the tray D so that when the motor G rotates the grid structure, the ice cubes will fall from the tray into the receptacle H for storage. A housing I is bolted or otherwise secured to a wall of the freezing compartment A and this housing acts both as a support for the tray structure D and as an enclosure for an actuating cam control mechanism l (see FIGS. 3, 4, 7, and 9').

Referring now to the drawings, the tray D, made of aluminum or any other suitable metal, has an upwardly extending side bracket l secured to a sidewall of the freezing compartment A. The tray D receives the grid structure E which divides the tray into a plurality of individual compartments for making a plurality of ice cubes. The grid structure E comprises a longitudinal vertically disposed plate 2 and a plurality of transverse or divider plates 3. Each of the transverse plates 3 is provided with a slot 4 and the longitudinal plate 2 is provided with a plurality of V-shaped slots 5. Each transverse plate 3, with its slot 4, is adapted to rest in the V-shaped slots 5 of the longitudinal plate 2, the V-shaped slots permitting pivotal movement of the transverse plate 3 on the longitudinal plate 2. As will be noted from FIG. 5, the tray D and the transverse plates 3 are of substantially semicircular shape.

A longitudinal horizontal plate 6 is provided for pivotally moving the transverse plates 3 relative to the longitudinal plate 2 to loosen the ice cubes from the grid structure and the tray. Plate `6 has a plurality of slots 7 and 8 at its edges for receiving the upper portions of the transverse plates 3. A slot '9 is provided in the plate 6 for receiving an upwardly projecting extension 10 of the vertical longitudinal plate 2. The other end of the plate 2 has a similar upwardly projecting extension 13 extending upwardly through an elongate slot 9a in the plate 6.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5, a bifurcated yoke element l5 is connected to the vertical plate 2, the yoke element having spaced arms 17 with the lower ends thereof receiving the extension i3 of the plate 2 therebetween and being secured thereto by bolt and nut assemblies 18. As seen in FIGS. 3 and 5, the upper portions of the yoke arms 17, 17 are bowed to surround a shaft 19 and for securing the yoke element 15 to the shaft by a pin 20 pressiitted into a passage 21 in the shaft to secure the pin to the shaft. The pin 20 has one end thereof eX- tending through and in spaced relation to an opening 22 Patented Nov.. 20, 1952 in an arm 17 of the yoke. Similar yoke structure is provided by a second yoke element 23 connected to the vertical plate 2 and to the shaft 19 in an identical manner to that described with reference to yoke element 15. The shaft 19 is rotatable in a counterclockwise direction, as Seen in FIG. 5, and through the drive pins 26, 2f) and yoke elements 15 and 23, is effective to rotate the grid.

Structure E out of the tray D. Refer-ring to FIGS. 2 and 5, a spring plate 24 has one end connected by bolt and nut assemblies 25, 25 to the rotatable shaft 19, and the plate 24 is curved to extend downwardly to engage a pair of plastic buttons 26, 26 on its other end with the horizontal plate 6, to yieldably urge the plate 6 downwardly. Each yoke element 15 and 23 is provided with an adjusting screw 27 threaded into the bight portion thereof and having its lower end engaging the shaft 19 for adjusting the clearance between the vertical plate 2 and the tray D, a lock nut 28 being threaded onto the screw 27 to prevent unwanted rotation thereof.

The drive shaft 19 is journaled at one end thereof in a plastic bearing 29, such as nylon, provided in an upstanding end portion 30 of the tray D. The drive shaft 19 also extends through and is connected to an annular sleeve 31 forming a portion of a control cam 32, the sleeve 31 being received within and engaging a bearing 33 formed as an integral portion of the housing I and supporting the shaft for rotation with the cam 32. The cam 32 is connected to rotate with the shaft 19 by a pin 33a extending through an opening in the shaft and having one end received rWithin a slot 33h in the sleeve 31 to drivingly connect the shaft 19 with the cam for unitary rotation.

A cam arrangement F is provided for moving the horizontal plate 6 and thereby the transverse plate 3 relative to the vertical plate 2 from a first position shown in the drawings, in which the ice cubes are frozen, to a second position in which the plates 3 are moved from their inclined positions to vertical positions in which the ice cubes are loosened from the plates 3, plate 2 and tray D, when the cam arrangement F is operative during rotation of the drive shaft 19. More particularly, the cam arrangement F comprises a cam 34 in the form of a collar surrounding the shaft 19 and xed -to the upstanding platelike portion 35 of a bracket 36 by screws 37, 37 extending through openings in the portion 35 and threaded into the collar 34, the bracket 36 having a foot portion securely connected by screws 38 to a horizontal end flange 39 of the tray D. To prevent bending stresses by forces exerted on the cam 34 and thereby on the bracket 36, a pin 40 extends through the shaft 19 and has its opposite outer ends engaging a washer 41 positioned between the pin 40y and the bracket 36.

The cam 36 is provided at one side thereof with a flat face 42 interrupted -by an inclined diagonally offset bottom cam surface having a sloping leading portion 43a and an oppositely sloping trailing portion 43h merging in a dwell portion 43e of the cam surface. As shown in FIGS. 2-5, inclusive, a follower 44 in the form of a studor pin is firmly secured as at 45 to one end of the plate 6 and is received within and engages the dwell portion 43C of the cam. The follower 44 is constantly urged into engagement with the cam by a torsion spring wire 46 lying on the upper surface of the plate 6 and having one end downwardly bent for reception in an opening 47 in the plate 6 and its other end disposed Within an opening 48 in one of the arms 17 of yoke element 15. It will be apparent that as the yoke element 15 is fixed to the plate 6, the plate 6 will be moved by the spring wire 46 toward the cam 34 to effectively maintain the follower in constant engagement with the cam. During rotation of the shaft 19, the leading portion 43a of the cam surface will cause the follower 44 and thereby the plate 6 to be moved to the left, as viewed in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, and relative to the plate 2 carrying the transverse plates 3 so that the plates 3 will be moved to vertical positions to loosen the ice cubes from the tray and from the grid structure so that they are now ready to be removed from the tray. It will be apparent from FIG. 4 that the elongate slots 9 and 9a in the plate 6 permit movement of the plate 6 relative to the yoke elements 15 and 23 to operate the grid structure as described.

The ice cubes are removed from the tray by continued rotation of the tray and, during which rotation, the plates 3 are maintained in vertical positions by the engagement of the follower 44 with the flat face 42 of the cam. The means for rotating the grid structure comprises the shaft 19 driven -by the electric motor G. Aspseen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the shaft 19 extends through the annular sleeve 31 of control cam 32, positioned within the bearing 33, and has at sides 49 in complementary engagement with the attened tubular end of a sleeve coupling 50, the other cylindrical end of the coupling receiving the motor drive shaft 51 and being connected to be driven by the sha-ft 51 by a pin 51a extending through aligned openings in the shaft and coupling.

The cam mechanism I is operative to provide a control inuencing the automatic operation of the ice maker. Referring to FIGS. 3, 7, S and 9, a rnicroswitch 52 is provided in the housing I for controlling the electric motor G and thereby rotation of the shaft 19 and the grid structure E attached thereto; and a microswitch 53 is provided for automatically controlling the water supply to the tray D. Both switches are opened and closed by operation of the cam mechanism I.

The actuating cam 32 of the cam mechanism I has a peripheral face provided with radially and circumferentially spaced, substantially concentric, arcuate surfaces 54 and 55 terminating'at adjacent ends thereof by an abrupt shoulder 56 and having a flat cam surface 57 between and connecting the other ends of the surfaces 54 and 55. The cam 32 is rotatable in a clockwise direction as indicated by the arrows in FIGS. 7 and 9. The flat cam surface 57 and the cam surface 55 are provided for closing the switch 53 and the abrupt shoulder 56 is provided for opening the switch 53. The switch 52 controls the motor G and has its contacts actuatable by a wire type spring 5S extending between the switch 52 and cam 32 and having one end thereof secured to a wall of the housing I by a screw 59 and with its depending end portion 60 receivable in a slot 61 provided in the peripheral face of, and extending around, the cam 32, the bottom of the slot being concentric with the rotational axis of the cam except for the V-shaped notch portion 61a which, as shown in FIG. 7, receives the depending portion 60 of the spring 5S and spacing the spring 58 from the actuating contact-control button 62 of the switch 52. Upon rotation of the shaft 19, the depending portion 60 of the spring moves out of the V-shaped portion 61a of the slot in the cam and will move along the concentric bottom of the slot to effect movement of the button 62 of the switch 52 and maintain the button in this position until the cam has rotated 360 at which time the depending portion 6) of the spring 58 will move into the -V-shaped portion 61a in the slot to release the engagement of the spring with the button 62 of the switch 52.

The control system for automatic operationof the ice cube maker also comprises a thermostatically controlled switch 63 mounted on a wall of the housing I as shown in FIGS. 3 and 7. Opening and closing of the contacts of the switch 63 is controlled by a conventional bulbtype thermostat 64 mounted on the side of the tray D as shown in FIGS. 2, and connected to the switch 63 to actuate the contacts of the switch in response to temperature changes. Referring to FIG. 1l, the switch 63 is provided with circuit-controlling contacts 63a and 63b and a movable contact arm 63C engageable with either of these contacts, the thermostat 64'being effective at above 22 F. to position the arm 63e in engagement with the contact 63a and at 18 F. to position the arm 63C in engagement with the contact 6315. The control system further includes `a heater 9, in the form of a high resistance coil in the electric control system, which is attached to the bulb of the thermostat 64 and is operative when current ilows through the coil, to warm the bulb to above 22 F. to close contacts 63C and 63a and to open the contacts 63C and 63]).

Prior to operation of the automatic ice cube maker, the various mechanical operating and control structure of the ice maker and the switches and other parts of the electrical control system are in the positions shown in the drawings. Assuming the tray is filled with water and the thermostatically controlled switch 63 is at the above 22 F. setting, thereafter the tray decreases in temperature by refrigerator action and ice cubes are formed in the grid structure in the tray. When the temperature reaches 18 F., the bulb of the thermostat will actuate the movable contact arm y63C of the switch 63 to disengage it from the contact 63a and to engage contact 63h to establish a circuit energizing the motor G to rotate the shaft 19 .and thereby the grid structure E and cam 32, and also energizing the heater 9. As the shaft 19 rotates, it causes the drive pins 249, 2G on the shaft to engage the tops of the slots of the two yoke elements and 23, in which the pins are received, to lift the entire grid structure upward approximately 1A; of an inch to release the grid structure `and ice cubes from the tray. At this time, the cam 32 has been rotated to cause the depending portion 6G of the spring 5S to move out of the V-shaped portion 61a of the slot 61 in the cam and to actuate the button 62 of the switch S2 and thereby move the contact arm 52a of the switch away from its engagement with the contact 52h and into engagement with the contact 52C. Opening of the normally closed contacts 52a and 52h causes the circuit to the motor to open and the motor is almost immediately deenergized to stop rotation of the shaft i9 and the grid structure E. Closing of the contacts 63h and 63e establishes a circuit to the heater 9 connected to and controlling the temperature of the bulb of the thermostat 6d. When the heater raises the temperature of the thermostat bulb to above 22 F., the contact arm 63C will be moved from the contact 631; and engage the contact 63a to open the circuit to the heater and to establish a circuit through these contacts '63C and 63a of the switch 63 to energize the motor G. Upon operation of the motor, the shaft 19 is rotated and thereby the grid structure E to cause the thrust stud or pin 44 on the plate 6 to be moved out of the dwell portion 43C of the stationary cam and along the leading portion 43a of the cam to cause movement of the plate 6 to the left as viewed in FGS. 2, 3, and 4, and relative to the plate 2 for moving the plates 3 to vertical positions t0 loosen the ice cubes from the grid structure for removal from the tray upon further rotation of the grid structure by the shaft 19, and to fall into the receptacle H.

Means are provided to dislodge any of the loosened cubes from the grid structure E and which do not fall away from the grid as it is rotated. As seen in FlGS. 2, 3, and 5, this dislodging means comprises a rod or bar 65 having a plurality of lingers 66 with each of the ngers disposed in the path of an ice cube compartment of the grid structure E, notches 67 being provided in the bottom of the plate 2 and notches 68 are also in a lateral edge of the plate 6 so that the plates will clear the lingers 66. The bar 65 has an arm 69 tixedly secured to one end thereof and an arm 7@ secured to its other end. The arms 69 and 70 are pivotally secured respectively to the wall 3d of the tray D and to the housing I by a nut and bolt assembly 71 and a screw 72. A torsion spring 73 surrounds the shaft of the screw 72 and has its opposite ends respectively engaging the arm 7@ and tray D to urge the bar to the position shown in FiGS. 2, 3, and 5.

As the motor G continues to rotate the shaft 19, the

5 grid structure E, and cam 32, the at surface 57 of the cam will engage the free end of a metal spring strip 74, connected at its other end to the switch 53, to move the free end of the strip toward and into engagement with the button 75 of the switch 53 to close the normally open contacts of the switch and thereby establish a circuit to energize a solenoid 76 of a water valve 77 (FIGS. 3, 10 and ll) to permit water to enter a tube 7S. The tube 7b directs the water into a flume 79v located above the tray for discharging water into the tray. The valve 77 is or" the type which meters a desired quantity of water to the tube 7S and is actuated by the solenoid 76, such solenoid-operated valve being shown in U.S. Patent No. 2,717,497 issued September 13, 1955. To prevent any possibility of freezing of water in the tube 78, an electric coil heater CH is wrapped around the tube.

The switch 53, controlling the water Valve, is actuated by the flat cam surface 57 of the cam at about 180 rotation of the grid structure and is then continued to be actuated by the surface 55 of the cam for maintaining the contacts of the switch 53 closed until the cam has been rotated by the motor G approximately 360, at which time, the free end of the spring strip will move past the shoulder 56 and drop off the cam surface 55 to cause opening of the contacts of the switch 53 to deenergize the solenoid 76 of the water valve.

As the cam 32 is further rotated by the motor G, the grid structure will be returned to its original ice-cube making position within the tray and, at such time, the depending end portion 64B of the spring 5S will move into the V-shaped portion 61a of the slot 61 to release the button 62 of the switch 52 to open the contacts 52a and 52e and cause closure of the contacts 52a and 52b to open the circuit to the motor G to deenergize the motor. The ice cube maker is then again operative for its automatic cyclic performance upon freezing of the water in the tray into ice cubes.

Means are also provided for insuring stoppage of the ilow of water to the tray D in the event the water supplying control means, such as the switch 53 controlling the solenoid-operated water valve 77 should fail to open with consequent flooding of the ice cube making machine with water. For this purpose and referring to FIGS. 7, 8, 9 and l1, a thermostatic bimetallic switch 80 of generally linear form is mounted on the housing I and is in series with the switch S3 in the electrical control circuit, the switch 80 having normally closed contacts 81 and 82. and a heater element 83 in the circuit which is energized when the contacts of the switch 53 are closed and producing sufficient heat to open the contacts of the switch 80. More particularly, in normal operation, the cam 32 is rotated at a speed by the motor G to close the switch 53 to energize the solenoid 76 of the water valve 77 for l7 -seconds to permit a sufficient amount of water to dow into the tray D to subsequently freeze to provide a batch of ice cubes. As the contacts of the switch Sb are normally closed to provide a circuit for energizing the heater element 83 when the contacts of the switch 53 are closed by the cam 32, the heater element produces su'icient heat to actuate the heater element to move one of the contacts of the switch 53 relative to the other contact of the switch to open the switch in 18 or 19 seconds, or l or 2 seconds after opening of switch 53 by the cam 32 and deenergization of the solenoid of the valve 77. Thus, if for some reason, the contacts of the switch 53 remain closed, the opening of the contacts of the switch S0 will break the circuit to the solenoid 76 of the water valve 77 to prevent the flow of water to the tray D. If the cam 32 should accidentally rotate continuously, the heater element of the switch 80, after three complete rotations of the cam, will store suflicient heat to maintain the contacts of the switch 80 in open position. It will be apparent that this safety feature provided by the switch ySi) affords definite and positive insurance for preventing flooding of the ice cube making machine with water.

Means are also provided for stopping operation of the automatic ice cube making machine when a desired adequate quantity of ice cubes have been made by the machine. As previously described, the ice cube-receiving basket H is supported beneath the ice cube maker and in a position to capture the ice cubes ejected from the tray D by the grid E upon rotation thereof by the motor G, as shown in FIG. l. The control arrangement for stopping operation of the ice cube making machine when the basket H is iilled with an adequate supply of ice cubes comprises a pivotal bail 84 normally extending down into the basket, and operative in conjunction with two microswitches 85, 86 and cam 32, to automatically shut oi the machine when the bail is maintained in a raised position by the accumulation of ice cubes in the basket.

More particularly, the 'bail 84 is formed of Wire and extends parallel and in spaced relation to the edge of the tray D as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 and has one end formed to provide a reversely bent hook 87 extending through a plate 88 secured to the end wall 30 of the tray D, the bail also having a shaft portion 89 extending through a wall of the housing and journaled in aligned openings in the side walls 90, 91 of a U-shaped frame 92. secured by screws 93 to the bottom wall of the housing I (FIGS. 7, 8), to pivotally -support the bail for movement to and from the tray D. The shaft portion 89 of the bail has secured thereto an upwardly extending wire actuator 94 adapted to underlie and engage a laterally extending projection 95 on the cam 32, as shown in FIGS. 6, 7, and 8, for pivoting the bail 84 from the position shown in full lines in FIG. l to the dotted line position of FIG. 1, during rotation of the cam 32. Y

The bail has its -shaft portion 89 provided with a laterally offset cam portion 96 to provide an actuator engaging the spring strip 97 to provide an actuator engaging the spring strip 97 contacting and actuating a button 98 of the microswitch S6 to close the normally open contacts of the switch 86 when the bail is in its down position shown in FIG. 1. The switch 86 is mounted on the side wall 91 of the frame 92. During pivotal movement of the bail, the bail actuates the microswitch 86 by the cam portion 96 of the shaft portion 89 of the bail, adjacent the wall 91 of the frame, to cause the spring strip 97 to release the button V98 of the microswitch 86 to permit the contacts of the switch 86 to open.

The microswitch 85 is mounted on the side wall 9i) of the frame 92 with the button 99 thereof being movable by an actuating lever 100, formed of strip metal, having parallel lateral arms 101, 102 through which the shaft portion 89 of the bail extends to provide for free pivotal movement of the lever relative to the bail, the top end l193 of the lever being adapted to be engaged by the projection 95 of the cam during rotation of the cam to effect pivotal movement ofthe lever to engage its laterally extending arm 104 with the button 99 of the microswitch 85 to open the normally closed contacts of the switch. Y

The bail 84 is normally maintained in the position shown in the drawings by a torsion spring 105 having its coiled portion surrounding the shaft portion 89 of the bail and with its opposite ends 106 and 107 respectively engaging the actuator portion 94 of the bail and the frame V92, as clearly shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. It may also be observed that the lever 100 is normally maintained in its shown position by the spring contacts and button of the microswitch 85 constantly urging the lever toward the Acam 32 and to engage the bottom edges of the lever arms `101, 102 with the bottom wall of the frame as at 188 to limit movement of the lever toward the cam.,

In the operation of the ice cube making machine when the ice cubes are being formed in the tray D and the motor G is deenergized, the various parts of the machine are in the positions shown inthe several views of the drawings. At this time, the contacts 52a and 5217 of the switch 52 are closed; the contacts of the switch 53 are open; the contacts 63a and 63e of the thermostatically controlled switch 63 are closed; and the contacts of the bimetallic switch and switches 85 and 86 are closed. Upon closing of the contacts 63b and 63C of the switch 63 by actuation of the thermostat bulb, a circuit is established energizing the motor G to rotate the cam 32 only momentarily as the cam is effective to open the contacts 52a and 52b of the switch 52 to break the motor-energizing circuit, but also to close its contacts 63a and 63C of the switch. As previously described, when the heater 9 has caused the thermostatic switch63 to close its contacts 63a and 63C, the motor circuit is again established and the shaft 19 and grid structurevE'rotate to eject the ice cubes from the tray into the basket. AIt will be noted that the upper end of the actuator 94 of the bail S4 engages the projection 95 of the cam 32 so that immediately upon the beginning of rotation of the cam, the projection 95 of the cam will apply force to the bail to cause pivotal movement thereof from the full line position thereof shown in FIG. 1 to the dotted line position to permit the subsequently ejected ice cubes from the tray to fall between the tray and the bail without contacting the bail. During this upward movement of the bail by the cam, the cam portion 96 of the bail is effective to open the contacts of the microswitch 86 and maintain these contacts open until about at 120 rotation of the cam, the bail disengages from the cam and returns to its normal down position and closes the contacts of the switch, the ice cubes having been ejected from the tray prior to disengagement of the bail from the cam. Upon the bail being disengaged from the cam, the cam projection 95 engages the end of the lever 19%) to pivot the lever to eiect opening of the contacts of the switch 85. It will be noted that the microswitches and S6 are placed in parallel in the circuit with the switches 52 and 53 and motor G so that either the contacts of the switch 85 or the contacts of the switch 86 are closed during this operation to insure continuous energization of the motor.

Assuming now that the basket H contains a quantity of ice cubes and the parts of the ice cube making machine are in the positions shown in the drawings, upon energization of the motor, the grid E is rotated to eject the ice cubes from the tray D and the cam 32 also rotates. The cam projection will actuate the bail from its position within the basket and raise the bail, and maintain the bail raised, to open the contacts of the switch 86 until the cam is rotated 120 when the bail will be released and be moved downwardly by the spring to close the contacts of the switch 86. In the event the basket H is filled with ice cubes, the contacts of the switch 86 and the actuating portion 96 of the bail are so related that downward movement of the bail will be arrested by the ice cubes with the result the contacts of the switch will remain open. Upon further rotation of the cam, the normally closed contacts of the switch 85 will open to break the circuit to the motor to deenergize the motor. As the switches 85 and 86 remain open, the ice cube making machine can no longer function until suiiicient ice cubes have been removed from the basket to allow the bail to move downwardly in the basket to again establish a circuit for the motor G and thereby automatic operation of the ice cube making machine.

FIGS. l2, 13 and 14 illustrate another embodiment of the invention having a modified cam control mechanism, generally designated X, for operating the grid structure Y to loosen the ice cubes from the tray D when the motordrive shaft is rotated. More particularly the grid structure Y comprises the longitudinally vertical plate 110 and a plurality of transverse or divider plates 111, each of the plates 110 and plates 111 being provided with Vslots for connecting the plates to permit pivotal movement of the plate 111 on the plate 110 as described with reference to the embodiment of FlGS. 1-11, inclusive. A longitudinal horizontal plate 112 is provided for pivotally moving the transverse plates 111 relative to the plate 110 to loosen the ice cubes from the grid structure and the tray. Plate 112 has a plurality of slots 113 at its edges for receiving the upper portions of the plates 111. The plate 119 is provided with longitudinally spaced and extending slots for receiving upwardly projecting extensions 114 and 115 of the plate 110 to permit movement or" the plate 112 relative to the plate 119.

As in the previously described embodiment of the invention of FIGS. 1-11, inclusive, the vertical plate 11G has its extensions 114 and 115 connected to the yoke elements 116 and 117 surrounding a rotatable motordriven shaft 118 and being connected thereto for slight relative vertical movement and for conjoint rotary movement by the drive pins 119, 129 received within slots 121 and 122 in the yoke elements. The shaft 118 is rotatably mounted on the housing I and tray D. More specifically, the bearing portion 123 of the cycle control cam of the cam mechanism J is secured to the shaft between its ends and is rotatably supported by a wall 124 of the housing I, and one end of the shaft extends through and is rotatably supported by a centrally located cylindrical bearing surface 125 of the cam 126 of the cam mechanism X mounted on the tray D. It will be apparent from FIG. 14 that the centrally located cylindrical bearing surface 125 of the cam 126 is separatedV from an enlarged centrally located bore 127 of the cam by a shoulder 12S, which engages a shoulder 129 on the reduced end of the shaft 113. rThe cam 126 has a reduced cylindrical end portion 13@ extending through and snugly fitting within an opening in the end wall 131 of the tray and the cam is secured to the wail 131 by a pair of screws 132, 132. To prevent axial movement of the shaft 118 relative to the cam 126, a washer 133 is positioned on the end of the shaft and is secured thereto by a screw 134, the washer extending outwardiy of the shaft and overlying the cam end portion 1321 and cooperating with the engaged shoulders 12S of the cam and 129 of the shaft to limit axial movement of the shaft.

The cam 126 has a lateral flat surface 135 interrupted by a depressed portion dening a camming face 136 having a sloping leading portion 136:1 and an oppositely sloping trailing portion 13-5b merging with a dwell portion 135C. A follower in the form of a stud or pin 137 is rmly secured as at 13S to one end of the plate 112 and is received within and engages the dwell portion 136C of the cam face 136.

During rotation of the shaft 122 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 13, the leading portion 136:1 of the cam face 136 will cause the follower and thereby the plate 112 to be moved to the right in F16. 1 and relative to the plate 110 carrying the plates 111 so that the plates 111 will be moved to vertical positions to loosen the ice cubes from the tray and the grid structure so that they can then be removed from the tray. During subsequent rotation of the shaft 113, the fia-t surface 135 of the cam 126 cooperates with the stud 137 of the plate 112 to maintain the plate 112 in its operative position in which the plates 111 are vertically disposed and, upon movement of the stud 137 along the trailing cam face portion 136b and into the dwell portion 135e, the plates of the grid structure will resume their original posiitons as shown in FIG. 12.

It will be apparent that the modified cam arrangement X can be utilized and will perform in an identical manner with the cyclical control cam mechanism J and the electrical control system disclosed in FIGS. 1-11, inclusive.

While we have described the invention in connection with several embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that this is by way of illustra-tion and not by way of limitation and the scope of the invention is defined solely by the 10 appended claims which should be construed as broadly as the prior art will permit.

What is claimed is:

l. ln an ice makinfy machine, a tray for receiving a liquid to be frozen; means for supplying liquid to the tray; means for freezing the liquid into ice; mechanical means for loosening the ice from the tray; means for removing the ice from the tray; power means for actuating said mechanical means and operating said removing means; means operative to energize said power means; means operated by said power mean, after actuation of said mechanical means and prior to operation of said iceremoving means for removal of the ice from the tray, to deenergize said power means; and means operative to reenergize, and thereby resume operation of, said power means to operate said iceremoving means to remove the ice 1from the tray.

In an ice making machine, a tray for receiving a liquid to be frozen; means for supplying liquid to the tray; means for freezing the liquid into ice; mechanical means for loosening the ice from the tray; means for removing the ice from the tray; power means for actuating said echanical means and operating said ice-removing means; thermostatically-controlled means operative to energize said power means; means operated by said power means, after actuation of said mechanical means and prior to operation of said ice-removing means for removal of the ice from the tray, to deenergize said power means; and means operative to reenergize, and thereby resume operation of, said power means to operate said ice-removing means to remove the ice from the tray.

3. ln an ice making machine, a tray for receiving a liquid to be frozen; means for supplying liquid to the tra1 means for freezing the liquid into ice; mechanical means for loosening the ice from the tra; means for removing the ice from the tray; power means for actuating said mechanical means and operating said ice-removing means; control means operative to energize said power means; means operated by said power means, after actuation of said mechanical means and prior to operation of said iceremoving means for removal of the ice from the tray, to deenergize said power means; and means for operating said control means, upon deenergization of said power means, to reenergize, and thereby resume operation of, said power means to operate said ice-removing means to remove the ice from the tray.

4. In an ice making machine, a tray for receiving a 1iiquid to be frozen; means for supplying liquid to the tray; means for freezing the liquid into ice; mechanical means for loosening the ice from the tray; means for removing the ice from the tray; power means for actuating said mechanical means and operating said ice-removing means; thermostatically-controlled means operative to energize said power means; means operated by said power means, after actuation of said mechanical means and prior to operation of said ice-removing means for removal of the ice from the tray, to deenergize said power means; and thermal means for causing operation of the thermostat of said thermostatically-controlled means to reenergize, and thereby resume operation of, said power means to operate said ice-removing means to remove the ice from the tray.

5. In an ice making machine, a tray for receiving a liquid to be frozen; means for supplying liquid to the tray; means for freezing the liquid into ice; means for removing the ice from the tray including electrically-operated power means; thermostatically-controlled means responsive to the formation of ice in the tray to energize said electrically-operated power means for removal of the ice from the tray; means operated by said power means, prior to removal of the ice from the tray, to deenergize said electrically-operated means; and electrical thermal means energizable by said thermostatically-controlled means upon energization of said power means, to cause operation of the thermostat of said thermostatically-con- 1 l trolled means to reenergize, and thereby resume operation of, said power means to remove the ice from the tray.

6. In an ice making machine, a tray for receiving a liquid to be frozen; means for supplying liquid to the tray; means for freezing the liquid into ice; means for removing the ice from the tray including electrically-operated power means; and means controlling operation of said power means including a thermostat and a switch movable thereby to one position by the formation of ice in the tray -to energize said power means to initiate ice removal from the tray and movable to a second position to energize said power means; means operated by said power means, prior to removal of ice from the tray, to deenergize said power means; and thermal means controlling said thermostat to move said switch to said second position to energize, and thereby resume operation of, said power means to remove the ice from the tray.

7. In an ice making machine, a tray for receiving a liquid to be frozen; means for supplying liquid to the tray; means for freezing the liquid into ice; means for removing the ice from the tray including electrically-operated power means; and means controlling operation of said power means including a thermostat and a switch movable thereby to one position by the formation of ice in the tray to energize said power means and also movable to a second position to energize said power means; means operated by said power means, prior to removal of the ice from the tray, to deenergize said power means; and thermal means controlled by said switch in said one position and, upon deenergization of said power means, causing operation of said thermostat to move the switch to the second position to energize, and thereby resume operation of, said power means to remove the ice from the tray.

8. In an ice making machine, a tray for receiving a liquid to be frozen; means for supplying liquid to the tray; means for freezing the liquid into ice; means for removing the ice from the tray including an electric motor having a rotatable shaft; and means controlling operation of said motor including a thermostat and a first switch movable thereby to one position by the formation of ice in the tray to energize said motor and also movable to a second position to energize said motor, a second switch operable to deenergize said motor, mechanical means rotatable with said motor shaft and actuating said second switch, prior to removal of the ice from the tray, to deenergize said motor, and thermal means operative, upon deenergization of said motor, to cause operation of the thermostat to move the first switch to the second position to energize, and thereby resume operation of, said motor to remove the ic'e from the tray.

9. In an ice making machine, a tray for receiving a liquid to be frozen; means for supplying liquid to the tray; means for freezing the liquid into ice; means for removing the ice from the tray including an electric motor having a rotatable shaft; and means controlling operation of the ice-removing means and including a thermostat and a switch movable thereby to a first position by the formation of ice in the -tray to energize said motor and also movable to a second position to energize said motor, a second switch having a first position to establish a first circuit to energize said motor when said first switch is in its first position and having a second position to establish a second circuit to energize said motor when said first switch is in its second position, control means rotatable by said motor shaft and actuating said second switch to break said first circuit to deenergize said motor and to move said second switch to its second position, and thermal means operative, upon deenergization of said motor, to cause operation of the thermostat to move the first switch to the second position to establish said second circuit to reenergize, and thereby resume operation of, said motor to remove the ice from the tray.

10. In an ice making machine as defined in claim 9 wherein said control means is a cam connected to the CFI 12 motor shaft and operative to control opening and closing of the second switch.

11. In an ice making machine, a tray for receiving a liquid to be frozen; means for supplying liquid to the tray; means for freezing the liquid into ice; means for removing the ice from the tray including an electric motor having a rotatable shaft; and means controlling operation of said motor and including a plurality of rst and second switches arranged to provide parallel first and second circuits to selectively energize said motor on establishment of either circuit by said switches, said first switch having thermostatic means operative, in response to the formation of ice in said tray, to position said first switch to establish said first circuit to energize said motor, means rotatable with said motor shaft and operable to move said second switch to break said first circuit, and thermal means operative, upon deenergization of said motor, to cause operation of the thermostat of said first switch for actuating said first switch to establish said second circuit to reenergize said motor to thereby resume operation of said motor to remove ice from the tray.

12. In an ice block making machine, a tray; a grid structure in the tray and composed of relatively movable plates for dividing frozen material in the tray blocks; actuating means including cam mechanism for loosening the grid structure and ice blocks from the tray and for moving the plates of the grid structure to loosen the blocks from the grid structure while said grid structure is disposed within the tray; power means for operating said actuating means and for rotating the grid structure to remove the loosened blocks from the tray; and means controlling operation of said power means including means for deenergizing said power means after its operation of said actuating means, and means operative to reenergize said power means to rotate the grid structure to remove the blocks from the tray.

13. In an ice block making machine, a tray; a grid structure in the tray and composed of relatively movable plates for dividing frozen material in the tray blocks; actuating means including cam mechanism for loosening the grid structure and ice blocks from the tray and for moving the plates of the grid structure to loosen the blocks from the grid structure while said grid structure is disposed within the tray; power means for operating said actuating means and for rotating the grid structure to remove the loosened blocks from the tray; and means controlling operation of said power means including means for energizing said power means to operate said actuating means, means controlled by said power means for deenergizing said power means when said actuating means has been operated, and means for reenergizing said power means for rotating the grid structure to remove the blocks from the tray.

14. In an ice block making machine, a tray; a grid structure in the tray and composed of relatively movable plates for dividing frozen material in the tray blocks; actuating means including cam mechanism for loosening the grid structure and ice blocks from the tray and for moving the plates of the grid structure to loosen the blocks from the grid structure while said grid structure is disposed within the tray; power means for operating said actuating means and for rotating the grid structure to remove the loosened blocks from the tray; and means controlling operation of said power means including thermostatically controlled means responsive to the formation of the ice blocks in the tray to energize said power means to operate said actuating means, means operated by said power means for deenergizing said power means when said actuating means has been operated, and thermal means for causing operation of the thermostat of said thermostatically-controlled means to reenergize said power means to rotate the grid structure to remove the blocks from the tray.

l5. In an ice block making machine, a tray; a grid structure in the tray and composed of relatively movable plates for dividing frozen material in the tray blocks; actuating means for loosening the grid structure and ice blocks from the tray and for moving the plates of the grid structure to loosen the blocks from the grid structure while said grid structure is disposed within the tray; power means for operating said actuating means and for rotating the grid structure to remove the loosened blocks from the tray; and means controlling operation of said power means *including a thermostat and a switch movable thereby to a first position by the formation of ice in the `tray to energize said power means and to a second position to also energize said power means; means operated by said power means, after energization thereof by movement of said switch into its first position to operate said actuating means, to deenergize said power means; and thermal means controlling said thermostat to move the switch to the second position to reenergize said power means to remove the ice from the tray.

16. In an ice block making machine, a tray; a grid structure in the tray and composed of relatively movable plates for dividing frozen material in the tray into blocks; actuating means for loosening the grid structure and ice blocks from the tray and for moving the plates of the grid structure to loosen the blocks from the grid structure while said grid structure is disposed within the tray; power means for operating said actuating means and for rotating the grid structure to remove the loosened blocks from the tray including an electric motor having a rotatable shaft connected to said grid structure and to said actuating means; and means controlling operation of said motor and including a thermostat and a switch movable thereby to a rst position by the formation of ice in the tray and to a second position, a second switch having a first position to establish a rst circuit to energize said motor to rotate said shaft to operate said actuating means when said first switch is in its rst position and having a second position to establish a second circuit to energize said motor to rotate said shaft and said grid structure to remove the blocks from the tray when said first switch is in its second position, control means rotatable by said motor and actuating said second switch to break said first circuit to deenergize said motor when said actuating means has been operated and to move said second switch to its second position; and thermal means operative, upon deenergization of said motor, to cause operation of the thermostat to move the first switch to the second position to establish said second circuit to reenergize said motor to remove the ice blocks from the tray.

17. In an ice block making machine, a tray; a grid structure in the tray and composed of relatively movable plates for dividing frozen material in the tray into ice blocks, said grid structure including a plurality of divider plates loosely interlocked by a driving plate; the improvement residing in means for moving said driving plate to actuate said divider plates to loosen the blocks from the grid structure while the grid structure is in the tray and to rotate the grid structure to remove the blocks from the tray including a rotatable and axially fixed shaft mounted above said tray and connected to said grid structure, power means for rotating said shaft and thereby said grid structure, and cooperating cam mechanism operative during rotation of said shaft and said grid structure to move said driving plate and thereby said divider plates relative to one another, and means for energizing said power means to rotate said shaft a full revolution to operate said cam mechanism to loosen the Vblocks from the grid structure, rotate said grid structure to remove the loosened blocks romthe tray, and return the grid structure to the tray.

18. In an ice block making machine, a tray; a grid structure in the tray and composed of relatively movable plates for dividing frozen material in the tray into ice blocks, said grid structure including a plurality of divider plates loosely interlocked by a driving plate; the improvement residing in means for moving said driving plate to actuate said divider plates to loosen the blocks from the grid structure while the grid structure is in the tray and to rotate the grid structure -to remove the `blocks from the tray including a rotatable axially fixed shaft mounted above said tray and connected to said grid structure, power meanstfor rotatingsaid shaft and thereby said grid structure, and cooperating cam mechanism including a station-ary cam engaging a follower fixed to said driving plate to move said driving plate and 'thereby said divider plates relative to one another during rotation of said shaft and said grid structure, and means for energizing said power means to rotate said shaft a full revolution to operate said cam mechanism to loosen the blocks from the grid structure, rotate said grid structure to remove the blocks from the tray, and return the grid structure to the tray.

19, in an ice block making machine, a tray; a grid structure in the tray and composed of relatively movable plates for dividing frozen material in the tray into ice blocks, said grid structure including a plurality of divider plates loosely 'mterlocked `by a driving plate; the improvement residing in means for moving said driving plate to actuate said divider plates to loosen the blocks from the grid structure while the grid structure is in the tray and to rotate the grid structure to remove the blocks from the tray including a rotatable axially fixed shaft mounted above said tray and connected to said grid structure, power means for rotating said shaft, and cooperating cam mechanism connected to said shaft and including a cam fixed to said tray engaging a follower on said driving plate to move said driving plate and thereby said divider plates relative to one another `during rotation of said shaft and grid structure, and means for energizing,V

said power means to rotate said shaft a full revolution to operate said cam mechanism to loosen the blocks from the grid structure, rotate said grid structure to remove the blocks from the tray, and return the grid structure to the tray.

20. ln an ice block making machine, a tray member; a grid structure in the tray and composed of relatively movable plates for dividing frozen material in the tray into ice blocks, said grid structure including a plurality of divider plates loosely interlocked by a driving plate member; the improvement residing in means for moving said driving plate member to actuate said divider plates to loosen the blocks from the grid structure while the grid structure is in the tray and to rotate the grid structure to remove the blocks from the tray including a r0- tatable axially fixed shaft mounted above said tray and connected to said grid structure, power means for rotating said shaft, and cooperating cam mechanism including a cam xed to one of said mem-bers and a follower xed to the other member to move said driving plate and thereby said divider plates relative to one another during rotation of said shaft and grid structure, and means for energizing said power means to rotate said shaft a full revolution to operate said cam mechanism to loosen the blocks from the grid structure, rotate said grid structure to remove the 4blocks from the tray, and return the grid structure to the tray.

2l. In an ice block making machine, a tray; a grid structure in the tray and composed of relatively movable plates for `dividing frozen material in the tray into ice blocks, said grid structure including a plurality of divider plates loosely interlocked by a driving plate; the improvement residing in means for moving said driving plate toV actuate said divider plates to loosen the blocks from the grid structure while the grid structure is in the tray and to rotate the grid structure to remove the blocks from the tray including a rotatable axially fixed shaft mounted above said tray and connected to said grid structure, powermeans for rotating said shaft, and cooperating cam mechanism including a cam fixed to said tray and a follower xed to said driving plate to move said driving plate and thereby said divider plates relative to one another during rotation of said shaft and grid structure, spring means urging said follower into engagement with said cam, and means for energizing said power means to rotate said shaft a full revolution to operate said cam mechanism to loosen the Iblocks from the grid structure, rotate said grid structure to remove the blocks from the tray, and return the grid structure to the tray` 22. In an ice block making machine, a tra-y; a grid structure in the tray and composed of relatively movable plates for dividing frozen material in the tray into ice blocks, said grid structure including a plurality of divider plates loosely interlocked by a driving plate; the improvement residing in means for moving said driving plate to actuate said divider plates to loosen the blocks from the grid structure while the grid structure is in the tray and to rotate the grid structure to remove the blocks from the tray including a rotatable axially fixed shaft mounted above said tray and connected to said grid structure, power means for rotating said shaft, and cooperating cam mechanism including a cam fixed to said tray and having a generally iiat vertical face interrupted by a dwell portion defined by oppositely inclined surfaces adjacent said driving plate and a follower fixed to said driving plate and disposed in said dwell portion of said cam and movable along one of said inclined surfaces to engage said iiat face for moving said driving plate and thereby said divider plates relative to one another; and means for energizing said power means to rotate said shaft a full revolution to operate said cam mechanism to loosen the blocks in the tra-y, rotate said grid structure to remove the blocks from the tray, and return the grid structure to the tray.

23. ln an ice block making machine, a tray; a grid structure in the tray and composed of relatively movable plates for dividing frozen material in the tray into ice blocks, said grid structure including a plurality of divider plates loosely interlocked by a horizontal driving plate; the improvement residing in means for moving said driving plate to actuate said divider plates to loosen the blocks from the grid structure while the grid structure is in the tray and to rotate the grid structure to remove the blocks from the tray including a rotatable axially fixed shaft mounted above said tray and connected to said grid structure for rotative movement therewith and for vertical movement relative thereto, power means for rotating said shaft, and cooperating cam mechanism connected to said tray and said driving plate and operative upon rotation of said shaft to move said driving plate to vertically raise and thereby free said grid structure and the blocks relative to the tray and to move said divider plates relative to one another to loosen the blocks from the grid structure, and means for energizing said power means to rotate said shaft to operate said cam mechanism to loosen the blocks in the tray, rotate said grid structure to remove the blocks from the tray, and return the grid structure to the tray.

24. In an ice block making machine, a tray; a grid structure in the tray and composed of relatively movable plates for dividing frozen material in the tray into ice blocks, said grid structure including a plurality of divider plates loosely interlocked by a driving plate; the improvement residing in means for moving said driving plate to actuate said divider plates to loosen the blocks from the grid structure while the grid structure is in the tray and to rotate the grid structure to remove the blocks from the tray including a rotatable axially fixed shaft mounted above said tray and connected to said grid structure for rotation thereof, power means for rotating said shaft, and cooperating cam mechanism connected to said tray and said driving plate and operative by said shaft to move said driving plate and thereby said divider plates relative to one another, means for energizing said power means to rotate said shaft a full revolution to actuate said cam mechanism to loosen the blocks in the tray, to rotate said grid structure to remove the blocks from the tray,

and to return the grid structure to its original position l@ within the tray, and spring means connected to and rotatable with said shaft and resiliently engaging said driving plate.

25. in an ice block making machine, a tray; a grid structure in the tray and composed of relatively movable plates for dividing frozen material in the tray into ice blocks, said grid structure including a vertical divider plate extending longitudinally of the tray and a plurality of inclined divider plates disposed transversely of the tray and movable relative to the vertical plate and loosely interlocked by a horizontal driving plate; the improvement residing in means for moving said driving plate to actuate said divider plates to loosen the blocks from the grid structure while the grid structure is in the tray and to rotate the grid structure to remove the blocks from the tray including a rotatable axially fixed shaft mounted above said tray and connected to said vertical plate to rotate said grid structure to remove the blocks from the tray, power means for rotating said shaft, and cam mechanism including a fixed cam element cooperating with a cam element fixed to said driving plate and operative by said shaft to move said driving plate and thereby said divider plates relative to one another; and means for energizing said power means to rotate said shaft a full revolution to actuate said cam mechanism to loosen the blocks in the tray, rotate said vertical plate and thereby said grid structure to remove the blocks by said vertical plate and said driving plate from the tray, and to return the grid structure to the tray.

26. ln an ice block making machine, a tray; a grid structure in the tray and composed of relatively movable plates for dividing frozen material in the tray into ice blocks, said grid structure including a vertical divider plate extending longitudinally of the tray and a plurality of inclined divider plates disposed transversely of the tray and movable relative to the vertical plate and loosely interlocked by a driving plate; and means for moving said driving plate to actuate said divider plates to loosen the blocks from the grid structure while the grid structure is in the tray and to rotate the grid structure to remove the blocks from the tray, including an electric motor having a rotatable axially fixed shaft mounted above said tray and connected to said grid structure for rotation thereof, spring means connected to and rotatable With said shaft and resiliently engaging said driving plate, cooperating cam mechanism including a cam xed to said tray and having a generally iiat vertical face interrupted by dwell portion defined by oppositely inclined surfaces adjacent said driving plate and a follower xed to said driving plate and disposed in said well portion of said cam and movable along one of said inclined surfaces to engage said at face for moving said driving plate and thereby said divider plates relative to one another, a-nd resilient means urging said follower into engagement with said cam; and means controlling operation of said motor and including a thermostat and a switch movable thereby to a first position by the formation of ice in the tray and to a second position, a second switch having a first position to establish a rst circuit when said first switch is in its first position to energize said motor to rotate said shaft to operate said cam mechanism and having a second position to establish a second circuit when said first switch is in its second position to energize said motor to rotate said shaft and said vertical plate and thereby said grid structure a full revolution to remove the blocks from the tray by said vertical and horizontal plates, control means including a cam connected to the motor shaft and operative to control movement of the second switch to break said irst circuit to deenergize said motor when said cam mechanism has been operated and prior to removal of the ice from the tray and said cam being thereafter operative to move said second switch to its second position, and thermal means operative, upon deenergization of said motor, to cause operation of the thermostat to move the first switch to the second position to establish said second References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Shagalo Sept. 13, 1955 Ploeger Sept. 13, 1955 18 Sampson Aug. 7, 1956 Sampson Aug. 7, 1956 Kennedy May 6, 1958 Heath June 24, 1958 Frei Oct. 6, 1959 Harle Feb. 7, 1961 

